Leaked – Atieva Atvus EV first image surfaces

Since the Tesla Model S is the leading luxury sedan in the United States, it’s understandable there are numerous companies looking to deliver a similar competitor.

Some come from established automakers – such as the upcoming production version of the Porsche Mission E concept – and others come from obscure companies such as Silicon Valley-based startup Atieva. We can discuss the latter a little bit more because we now have the first leaked image of the electric sedan that would go against the Model S. The Silicon Valley startup first entered mainstream by supplying batteries for Chinese buses and now hopes to deliver a comparable electric sedan in a bid to snatch a piece of the growing market.

The leaked document images shows a fluid, four-door layout similar to the Model S, with original design elements including a partial wheel skirt on the rear tires, and a more hatchback styled boot. The Atvus is expected to deliver about the same performance credentials: 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint time in under three seconds and a 300-mile range. The model should also come with some autonomous driving capabilities, as per the firm’s co-founder, Sam Weng, who said the Atvus will strive to “erase [the] constraints of modern transportation.” Production could take place at the Dayang Motorcycle plant in Luoyang, China.